seno
/ˈse.no/
The English phrase 'breasts' can be translated into Italian as seno.
seno refers to the mammary glands or the chest area of a person, typically a woman.
Which one should you use?
While seno can be used to mean 'breasts' in the plural, it is frequently used in the singular to refer to the chest area or a single breast.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For more formal contexts, you might use Seni, which is a poetic word or Mammelle, which refers specifically to female breasts. In technical contexts, Le ghiandole mammarie is used to refer specifically to the mammary glands. Conversely, tette is a common, straightforward and colloquial term that is considered vulgar or offensive.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of seno is seni.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of seno is /ˈse.no/. It has 2 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st of 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word seno also serves as a technical term in geometry and trigonometry to mean 'sine'.
- In Italian, the word seno is also used in geography to describe a 'bay' or an inlet of the sea.
- The word seno shares its origin with the English word 'sinus', which refers to a cavity or a hollow space.
Examples in context
- Ha il seno grande.She has large breasts.This sentence is useful for describing the size of someone's seno.Tatoeba #2531320 by Guybrush88, translation #784435 by Scott
- Ti ha toccato il seno?Did he touch your breasts?This sentence is useful for asking if someone was touched on the seno.Tatoeba #10099508 by Guybrush88, translation #3068268 by Hybrid
- Mary ha il seno piccolo.Mary has small breasts.This sentence is useful for describing Mary's seno size.Tatoeba #7116478 by Guybrush88, translation #5818943 by Hybrid
- Le mammelle femminili sono una caratteristica specifica dei mammiferi.Female breasts are a specific characteristic of mammals.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Sofia are at a clothing store.
- LorenzoQuesto vestito ti valorizza molto il seno.This dress really flatters your breasts.
- SofiaGrazie, mi sento molto a mio agio.Thank you, I feel very comfortable.
- LorenzoSì, la scollatura è perfetta per te.Yes, the neckline is perfect for you.
- SofiaLo penso anche io, lo prendo!I think so too, I'll take it!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry seno, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries seno, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
